Marriott Bonvoy credit cards come with some serious perks and welcome offers, but figuring out if you actually qualify for one can feel like reading legal fine print through a foggy snorkel mask.
Because Marriott’s cards are split between two issuers (American Express and Chase), with overlapping products and restrictive rules, things get messy fast.
Let’s walk through everything you need to know: how the rules work, why you might see eligibility issues, and how to choose the right Marriott Bonvoy card.
Why Issuers Matter When Applying for a Marriott Card
Marriott currently offers six cobranded credit cards — three from Chase and three from American Express. Whether you qualify for a welcome bonus often depends on which Marriott cards you’ve held in the past, even if it was from a different issuer.
This means you could be approved for a new card but still not qualify for the welcome offer. That can happen if you opened another Marriott card in the past 90 days or received a bonus in the last 24 months. And unfortunately, the banks aren’t super-duper clear about the details when you apply.
Let’s say you're applying for the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card and get a message saying you're not eligible for the bonus. Even if you no longer have the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, having opened or received an offer from that card recently can still disqualify you due to Amex’s restrictive eligibility rules.
What Are the Rules for Each Card?
Welcome offer eligibility typically depends on your current and past Marriott card history, how recently you opened other Marriott products, and whether you’ve received bonuses before.
Here’s a simplified breakdown:
❌ You can’t have opened or received an offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, or Bountiful in the last 90 days or 24 months.
✅ You're in the clear if you currently or previously held the Bonvoy Business from Chase, Bonvoy from Chase, Premier from Chase, Premier Plus Business from Chase, or Ritz-Carlton® cards.
✅ You’re also good if you currently or previously had the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant from Amex.
❌ You won’t be eligible if you’ve had the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant before.
❌ You must wait 24 months since receiving an offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, or Bountiful, and must not currently have any of those cards.
✅ You’re eligible if you’ve had the Bonvoy Business from Chase, Bonvoy from Chase, Premier, Premier Plus Business, Ritz-Carlton®, or Bevy cards — as long as other timing restrictions don’t apply.
❌ You can’t have had the Bevy before.
❌ You must wait 30 days since holding the Bountiful, and 90 days since opening it, and be 24 months removed from any offer.
❌ You also must wait 90 days and 24 months since receiving an offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless.
✅ You are eligible if you’ve had or currently have the Marriott Business, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, Bonvoy from Chase, Premier, Premier Plus Business, or Ritz-Carlton® cards.
❌ You must wait 90 days since opening and 24 months since an offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy, or Business Amex.
❌ You can’t currently have the Bountiful card or have received an offer on it in the past 24 months.
✅ You’re eligible if you’ve had the Bonvoy Business from Chase, Bonvoy from Chase, Premier, Premier Plus Business, or Ritz-Carlton® cards.
❌ Same rules as the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: You’ll need to be 90 days out from opening and 24 months out from an offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, Bevy, or Business Amex.
❌ You can’t currently have the Bountiful or have earned an offer on it in the last 24 months.
✅ You’re golden if you’ve had the Bonvoy Business from Chase, Bonvoy from Chase, Premier, Premier Plus Business, or Ritz-Carlton® cards.
Phew, okay. Everyone take a deep breath in… and out.
It’s a lot, but the main idea is this: Amex and Chase both keep close tabs on your Marriott card history, and even past approvals can affect what you’re eligible for now.
What About Upgrading or Downgrading Marriott Cards?
If you're not eligible for a welcome offer but still want to switch to a different Marriott card, upgrading or downgrading might just be your best move.
Most upgrades and downgrades happen within the same issuer:
Chase: You can upgrade from the Marriott Bonvoy Bold to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless (or vice versa)
Amex: You can downgrade the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant to the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy, or upgrade the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
✨ Remember: Product changes don’t usually come with an offer, but they also don’t reset your eligibility clock for future welcome offers. When I’m changing products, I always get on the phone with someone. You never know when you’ll get a special offer or better deal than you would online.
Which Marriott Card is Right For You?
If you're trying to figure out which card is best long-term, here’s what each card is good for:
$0 annual fee
Five elite night credits
Weak earning rates, no free night
Good for maintaining Marriott Bonvoy® Silver status
Learn more: Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
$95 annual fee
1 Free Night Certificate (up to 35k points)
15 elite night credits
Great for those who want one solid Marriott card
Learn More: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
$250 annual fee (Rates & Fees)
Up to 1,000 bonus points per stay
15 elite night credits, and a free night (after $15k in eligible purchases)
More of a status chaser’s card, but the value is meh
Learn More: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
$650 Annual Fee annual fee (Rates & Fees)
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status
Up to a $300 dining credit, 85k Free Night Certificate
Best for big-time Marriott fans who want elite perks without much effort
$125 annual fee (Rates & Fees)
35k Free Night Certificate
15 elite night credits (stackable with personal cards)
Ideal for pairing with a personal card to hit 30 elite nights
Learn More: Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
How Elite Status Works With Marriott Cards
Most Marriott cards give you 15 elite night credits per year. If you hold both a personal and a business card, you can stack those credits for a total of 30 nights annually.
That gets you more than halfway to Gold Elite status — but it’s the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant that really helps here, since it comes with Platinum Elite status right away (normally requires 50 nights).
Pairing a personal and business card is a great way to fast-track your status or get closer to a milestone award (like Suite Night Awards or Choice Benefits). Oooh. Aaah.
Bottom Line
If you're seeing an “ineligible” message from Amex, don’t take it personally. You're likely running up against a 90-day or 24-month restriction from a past Marriott card.
Your best move may be to wait it out, consider a product change, or apply for a card with no overlapping restrictions.
And if you’re ever unsure, use a tool like CardMatch to help see what you’re eligible for, or call the issuer to clarify.
